Alan García

The political career of Alan García spanned decades, defined by two non-consecutive terms as President of Peru and a rise to prominence within the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance. From his initial election in 1985 at age 36 to his final years under investigation for the Odebrecht scandal, his trajectory reflected the volatile shift of Peruvian governance throughout the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

Formative Years and Education

Born in 1949 in Lima, García was raised in a household deeply involved with the Peruvian Aprista Party. He studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and the National University of San Marcos, graduating in 1971. He later traveled to Europe, attending the Complutense University of Madrid, the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3, and the Institut des Hautes Etudes de l'Amérique latine in France, where he earned a diploma in sociology.

Political Ascent

García returned to Peru in 1978 to serve in the Constituent Assembly. By 1980, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru. His rise within the party was swift; he became General Secretary of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in 1982. This base supported his 1985 presidential campaign, which he won after the withdrawal of his runoff opponent, Alfonso Barrantes.

The First Presidential Term

His first term (1985–1990) was characterized by economic interventionism and isolationist policies. Attempting to cap debt repayment at 10% of the Gross National Product, the administration faced severe hyperinflation, which reached 7,649% by 1990. During this period, poverty rates climbed from 41.6% to 55%. Following his term, he faced investigations into corruption and eventually sought asylum abroad during the administration of Alberto Fujimori.

Return to Power

After a failed bid in 2001, García was re-elected president in 2006, defeating Ollanta Humala. His second term (2006–2011) saw a reversal of economic trends, with Peru achieving high growth and signing free trade agreements with the United States and China. Poverty levels decreased to 28% during this tenure. Despite these indicators, the administration remained dogged by persistent corruption allegations.

Final Years

García retired from active party leadership after a fifth-place finish in the 2016 general election. In 2019, while facing arrest related to the Odebrecht investigation, he died by suicide in Lima. Throughout his career, he held various decorations, including the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, the Order of the Liberator General San Martín, the Hungarian Order of Merit, and the Grand Order of Mugunghwa.

Fast facts

• Born: 1949, Lima
• Died: 2019, Lima
• Citizenship: Peru
• Presidential terms: 1985–1990, 2006–2011
• Occupations: Writer, lawyer, politician, jurist, sociologist
• Education: Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, National University of San Marcos, Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3

Questions readers ask

Did Alan García serve more than two terms?

No, he served two non-consecutive terms as President of Peru, from 1985 to 1990 and 2006 to 2011.

What was the cause of Alan García's death?

García died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 17 April 2019 while police were preparing to arrest him.

Achievements

• President of Peru (1985–1990)
• President of Peru (2006–2011)
• Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru (1980–1985)
• member of the Constituent Assembly of Peru (1978–1979)
• Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic‎ — 2008
• Hungarian Order of Merit
• Order of the Liberator General San Martín
• Grand Order of Mugunghwa
• Educated at Complutense University of Madrid and Pontifical Catholic University of Peru